Hurricane Isaac prompts cancellation of political science convention

The American Political Science Association cancelled its 6,000-person convention Tuesday evening as Hurricane Isaac moved slowly across the metro area and prolonged the effects of the storm. The convention had been scheduled to run from Thursday through Sunday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Hurricane Isaac "A primary function of the association is to provide...

The American Political Science Association cancelled its 6,000-person convention Tuesday evening as Hurricane Isaac moved slowly across the metro area and prolonged the effects of the storm. The convention had been scheduled to run from Thursday through Sunday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Hurricane Isaac

"A primary function of the association is to provide the highest quality meeting experience possible," group president G. Bingham Powell said on the group's web site Tuesday evening. "In light of revised information we have from local officials about the trajectory of Isaac, we now anticipate the potential for sustained rain, flooding, power outages and severely restricted transportation into the city on Thursday. Under these circumstances, it is not prudent to convene the meeting."

On Monday, the political science group cancelled pre-convention seminars and other activities that had been scheduled for Wednesday, but said that it would hold the meeting as scheduled.

Kelly Schulz, vice president of communications at the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, said that her group tried to come up with contingency plans, but they didn't work out. "We are disappointed but we respect and understand their decision," she said.